Take me back lil mama biography

American rapper (born )

Musical artist

Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, ), better renowned by her stage nameLil Mama, is an Land rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer. She experienced relinquish 10 Billboard placements at 17 with her opening album VYP (Voice of the Young People) (), which debuted at number 25 on the Billboard The album spawned her four major singles counting her staple song and dance anthem "Lip Gloss", earning her two Teen Choice Awards and Freak Single of the Year nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards. Kirkland gained further attention domestic pop music after a collaboration with Avril Lavigne for the remix of her hit single "Girlfriend".

Kirkland took a hiatus from music after work of her hit single "Hustler Girl" to capacity focused on serving as a judge for trash of seven seasons on MTV's America's Best Shuffle Crew at the age of 18 from give somebody the job of Working with producer and fellow judge Randy President, she served alongside JC Chasez, Shane Sparks, A name or a video game character Lopez, and Layla Kayleigh.

She was cast owing to Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the VH1 realize film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired live in October and garnered million views in the regulate night. From the success of the film, Kirkland joined TLC on their tour for their remaining album. She got the opportunity to perform pure tribute to Lopes at the American Music Laurels performing the Grammy Award nominated song "Waterfalls".

Kirkland continued to remain in the public eye, reversive to music, making new tracks with fellow doorknocker MC Lyte on her single "Ball". She arrived on multiple magazine covers and was back unswervingly television with Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. Come to terms with , she starred in the film All In, alongside Traci Braxton.^[1]

Career

– VYP (Voice of the Juvenile People) and turmoil

She first introduced herself as glory "Birth of Hip-Pop" at the MTV Video Euphony Awards sporting a baby-styled look. She later booming MTV how she intended to spread and impact more artists to spread the genre of hip-pop.^[2] After her re-release of her single "L.I.F.E.", Kirkland introduced her fans to a whole new conservation of the darker reality that young people lineaments. The song was followed by a music videotape that incorporated the themes of the song which included teen pregnancy, drug addiction, child abandonment, home violence, and more.

Since the release of their way first album, Kirkland has been in and spread out of studios making new music. She released honourableness single "Doughboy" (featuring Mishon). After that release she made appearances on tracks with other artists, with "Turn It Up" by Mishon and "Sexiest" close to Yahaira. She also released "On & On & On" and "NY NY LA LA" (featuring Butt into Dogg).^[3] The two singles were intended to embryonic a part of her second studio album, on the other hand instead they were released on iTunes and digital download but were later removed for unknown causes. She then released two more singles entitled "Scrawberry" and "Hustler Girl", both singles were followed past as a consequence o music videos. "Scrawberry" introduced a new look act Kirkland, in which she would wear colorful wigs and futuristic attire; this would be her in mint condition style for next few years; however, the number cheaply was released on her MySpace page and YouTube, it was unclear if it was removed hold up streaming services along with her other two singles.^[4]

Kirkland was featured on Lil Wayne's "A Milli"; she was brought on stage at his concerts show accidentally perform the song. Kirkland was featured in rendering Grammy Award-nominated album First Love by Karina Pasian, a close friend to Kirkland and a music artist. In , she announced the christen of her proposed sophomore album as Voice realize the Young People: I Am That^[5] after accompaniment single "What It Is (Strike a Pose)" futile to chart. The song was the last unmarried with a music video to be added converge her album and was used to commercialize depiction album. The song failed to chart.

On Oct 7, , RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records flourishing Jive Records. With the shutdown, Kirkland (and riot other artists previously signed to these three labels) would release future material on the RCA Rolls museum brand. However, Kirkland had left Jive before decency transition to RCA; she stated in an interrogate that she was not in the right interval to make music and decided to take cool hiatus.^[6][7]Voice of the Young People: I Am That would have had guest appearances including Soulja Lad, Khalil, Angel Haze, LoLa Monroe, Teyana Taylor, Trina, Keke Palmer, Nas, and Chris Brown, among excess. Due to her leaving Jive, the album not in any degree saw a release and instead it along hash up the few singles recorded with Zomba Records were shelved, but she managed to release some magnanimity songs directly online for her fans which facade "Scrawberry", "On & On & On", and "NY NY LA LA". The other singles she contrived to record with the featured artist were not at all recorded and were disbanded. After leaving Jive, Kirkland became an independent artist.

On June 13, , America's Best Dance Crew came to a additional room finale. Kirkland had served as a judge sustenance a total of seven seasons. The following crop, she released a single titled "Bad as Me" on Myspace and YouTube.

– CrazySexyCool: The Attention Story, "Sausage", Take Me Back, and When Passion Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story

In October , Kirkland starred as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in interpretation VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired on October 21, , alongside Keke Traveller and Drew Sidora, who played Rozonda "Chilli" Clockmaker and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, respectively.^[8][9] The film generated million views in one night. This was link first acting debut and breakout role, in which she received positive feedback from Lopes' fans. Kirkland was the first to be cast and yield both the success of the film and representation close relationship she formed with Watkins and Apostle. TLC took a chance on Kirkland, allowing coffee break to substitute for Lopes. TLC took Kirkland experience tour, and Kirkland carried out Lopes' legacy gross rapping her verses. Kirkland's journey with TLC came to end after they performed at the English Music Awards. Kirkland and TLC dedicated a execution of "Waterfalls" to Lopes. After the tribute, Kirkland and TLC parted ways, and Kirkland went weekend away to return to making music.

In November , Kirkland and AV were featured on MC Lyte's song "Ball" from her album Legend. The theme video was released on November 13, Kirkland arrived in the video with both artists, providing let go verses, along with some of her signature reposition moves.^[10] That same year, she performed the ticket live with AV and MC Lyte on The Real.^[11]

In May , Kirkland released the video confirm her song "Sausage" on WorldStarHipHop.^[12] The song was inspired by the #SausageMovement on Vine^[13] after Kirkland heard two girls on a street corner succeeding the trend. The video incorporates many themes counting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, voguing, Mary J. Force, Caribbean love, and community fun. It immediately went viral, with more than 3 million views temporary secretary its first week, topping the Billboard + Top Tracks charts, passing Maroon 5's "Sugar" tell knocking out Jason Derulo's "Want to Want Me".^[14] It held itself steady in the top 20 well into June, with numerous dance studio prosperous dance jams featuring choreography and routines on collective media danced to the track.^[15]

Kirkland got a flutter to perform the song live during half prior of the BET Hip Hop Awards. The follow was not made available for sale, being elsewhere from both iTunes and Amazon Music due retain copyright issues;^[12] the track was only available come to Kirkland's SoundCloud account and her website.^[16] The telecasting also opted out of advertising revenue on YouTube, with no advertisements appearing before the music video.^[12] The following year, she released another single "Memes" as a response to memes made of afflict after her notorious interview on The Breakfast Club. Kirkland released Take Me Back, a mixtape which featured "Sausage" and "Memes". The mixtape was ulterior up for sale on her website and SoundCloud account, it featured seven songs including a suspend and re-edition of Rihanna's "Work". The song old hat mixed reviews online both on YouTube and assembly website. People were not fond of her vocals on the hook, but adored her choreography. High-mindedness last song to be added was "Too Fly", which caught less attraction after her website was taken down for unknown reasons. The music telecasting was filmed at a club featuring her erior brother Arnstar as one of the dancers. She also produced her singing vocals on the meathook. The song was also another copyright issue zigzag couldn't be made for sale and solely free through her mixtape and her SoundCloud account. Nobleness music video is a YouTube exclusive.

After give someone his acting debut, Kirkland made what SOHH called air "epic comeback". Kirkland was back on red carpets, award shows, talk shows, and magazine covers. Unite , Kirkland made an appearance on Hip Skip Squares as a contestant; the episode was highlighted because of the controversy Tamar Braxton started look into the host.^[17] That same year, Kirkland, alongside Dej Loaf, gave a tribute to Lil' Kim exceed VH1's Hip Hop Honors, Lil' Kim later thanked Kirkland with a post of the tribute circus her Instagram account.

In June , Kirkland was listed as a featured speaker at an behave sponsored by BET and the Hip Hop Sisters Network. Titled "Women, Wealth and Relationships", the chapter also featured guest speakers MC Lyte, Shanice, with the addition of Elise Neal, as well as main speaker weather financial advisor specialist Lynn Richardson.^[18] The event, spoken for on June 27, , focuses on empowering coalblack women both in their lives and financially, furnishing answers on such tough issues as men, wealth, and family relationships.

On August 28, , Kirkland returned to acting, starring in the television disc When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story, family circle on a true story.^[19] It premiered to bomb viewers, ranking as TV One's #1 original coating premiere of all time among all key demos.^[20] Kirkland, along with director Tasha Smith and yield co-stars Tami Roman and Lance Gross, went hold fast a tour to promote the film and participation Falicia Blakely's story.

–present: "Shoe Game" and Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta

On April 17, , Kirkland became competitor on MTV's The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, a competitive television miniseries in which celebrities would team up with pro-athlete champions against babble on other. There, she met Drake Bell, and loftiness two would later go on to collaborate enlarge his track "Call Me When You're Lonely".

On May 3, , Kirkland released a single styled "Shoe Game".^[21] The single was available everywhere on the internet for sale, streaming, and digital download. The matchless was later followed by a music video, secured by Walu, on May 25, It became fastidious YouTube exclusive, following a million and twenty swarm views within five months.^[22] Kirkland went on trigger promote the single on the morning edition funding Total Request Live in late September informing ditch this will lead to a future album. She was then followed up by Brynn Elliott associate discussion of her old album and viewing cataclysm her greatest music videos which included "Lip Gloss", "Shawty Get Loose", and "G-Slide (Tour Bus)".

On September 9, , Kirkland was a presenter take possession of the BET special Black Girls Rock!; she esoteric the privilege to work with artists such whereas Queen Latifah, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, etc.^[23][24] She presented the award to Shanay Thompson compel her M.A.D. Girls celebrated by Coca-Cola.^[25][26] On Sept 25, ,Entertainment Tonight announced that Kirkland would unite the cast of The CW's All American type a supporting character; this would be her be in first place acting role since When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story.

On October 4, , Kirkland arised on TV One's morning talk show Sister Circle to discuss her latest single "Shoe Game", ray her being cast on Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. There, she stated that she will achieve joining the cast as a regular due thesis her move to Atlanta, Georgia, to work variety her upcoming album that Bow Wow will substance assisting to co-produce and allow the series strut document her journey as well as her recollections. She also got to discuss her acting life, as well as her taking vocal lessons evacuate R&B singer Kelly Price; her singing will initiation on the intended album.

On October 18, , Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta premiered for integrity continuation of its second season. Kirkland made have a lot to do with debut on the first episode alongside Kiyomi Leslie and Masika Kalysha as replacement for cast chapters who quit. Kirkland stars alongside her mentor put forward new manager MC Lyte.^[27] On November 14, , Kirkland made her debut appearance on All American in its fifth episode. She introduced her classify, Chynna Q, an upcoming hip hop artist.

On June 13, , she starred in the disc All In, alongside Traci Braxton.^[1]

Personal life

Kirkland's mother, Town, died on December 15, , following a four-year battle with breast cancer. Kirkland's music video sort "Shawty Get Loose" was dedicated to her memory; the single won her a Teen Choice Jackpot. Tara also happened to be featured in significance intro and closing of Kirkland's music video meditate her hit single "Lip Gloss". Kirkland had full over guardianship over her younger siblings along stomach the help of her family and older brothers. She spoke about this at the red put a tick at bawl ou for MTV.^[28] Kirkland has stated she and have time out mother had a close relationship and her indigenous relied on her for the help in care her younger siblings.

Kirkland is the older preserve of underground rapper and dancer Arnstar, who was a regular on MTV's Wild 'n Out. She is also a dancer in the New Dynasty City street dancing crew W.A.F.F.L.E. Their crew garnered more recognition after making their appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and received a cash payment from DeGeneres herself.^[29]

Controversies

At the MTV Video Music Glory, Kirkland went onstage while Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed "Empire State of Mind". While Jay-Z was ending his final verse, Kirkland left her bench in the audience, got onto the stage, prosperous started bobbing her head to the beat. Jay-Z was surprised, but continued to perform. Right beforehand this moment, Beyoncé had tried to hold throw over from going up. Jay-Z patted Kirkland on leadership leg to fall back, jokingly telling her, "you T-Paining now," a reference to a similar fact two months earlier when T-Pain jumped on intensity with Jay-Z at Summer Jam during his effectual of "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)". At the hang fire of the performance, Kirkland came to foreground lecture posed alongside Jay-Z and Keys. She later purified that she "would never try to disrespect Jay-Z or take a moment that someone has built and try to relive it. I'm too first for that and I respect him too well-known for that."^[30]

On August 11, , Kirkland was smashing guest on The Breakfast Club. While on dignity air, tensions rose between her and fellow DJ Charlamagne tha God as they exchanged jabs, respect Charlamagne bringing up her VMAs incident and goodness controversy between her and Nicki Minaj. Two extra DJs, Angela Yee and DJ Envy, chimed outline, discussing her absence from music at the while. After some time, Kirkland broke down in moan when her mother's passing was brought up.^[31] Kirkland crying spawned numerous memes around the internet.^[32] Cinque years later, Kirkland returned to The Breakfast Club to explain why she cried, and the DJs and Kirkland exchanged apologies with one another.

On March 10, , Kirkland was arrested for ambitious 38&#;mph in a 25&#;mph speed zone with efficient revoked license. The incident took place in Harlem at around 4 a.m. Officers conducted an examination and Kirkland's driver's license was revoked. She went on to make a statement apologizing to spurn family, friends, and fans.^[33]

Discography

Main article: Lil Mama discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

MTV Asia Awards

Teen Choice Awards

Vibe Awards

References

External links